Has Microsoft offered $19bn for Nokia's phone business?

Industry know-it-all says yes

Microsoft may have offered to take Nokia's ailing mobile phone business off its hands for $19 billion, if industry insider Eldar Murtazin has got his facts right.

He tweeted, "One small software company decided last week that they could spent 19 bln USD to buy a part of small phone vendor. Thats it."

When questioned over what two companies he was referring to, Murtazin clarified, "I think that's clear enough - MS and Nokia."

Corporate fun and games

As Nokia and Microsoft recently struck a billion-dollar deal over Windows Phone handsets, and given that Nokia CEO Stephen Elop is an ex-Microsoft exec, nobody is going to be paralysed with shock if the buy-out rumours end up being true.

Nobody but Nokia's PR team, perhaps; when Murtazin first floated the idea that Nokia would soon be talking to Microsoft about offloading its phone arm in mid-May, they dismissed the rumour, saying: "We have to say that Eldar's rumours are getting obviously less accurate with every passing moment." Zing!